RCC's Retail Secure Conference
The annual event highlighted the importance of a unified approach to fight ORC

Partnerships Crucial in Reining in Retail Theft
Partnerships are key in combatting the $9.1 billion price tag of organized retail theft in 2024, said Staff Superintendent Joe Matthews at the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) Retail Secure Conference on March 19 at the International Centre.

“The product losses and increased cost of security and insurance are felt by the consumer in the cost of products,” said Matthews, who was a keynote speaker at the conference. “Although individual product losses may seem insignificant, organized retail theft will have a significant impact on our economy if left unchecked.”

To address the surge, he encouraged retailers to utilize emerging technologies to safeguard their businesses. He also told retailers they also have a vital role in participating in the prosecution process.

Last year, Toronto Police launched a pilot project in 23 Division to investigate organized retail theft. Since its inception, the team has investigated 476 occurrences of over $229,000 in stolen property. A total of 49 people have been arrested and 519 charges have been laid. Earlier this year, 14 Division developed an action plan to address the issue.

The senior officer who oversees Detective Services, which includes several investigative units, including the Hold-Up Squad, said the partnership between law enforcement and retailers is crucial in effectively addressing retail crime.

“By working together, sharing information and implementing coordinated strategies, we can create a safer environment for businesses and communities alike,” added Matthews. “This collaboration not only enhances our ability to prevent and respond to incidents but also fosters a sense of shared responsibility and trust. Together, we can tackle the challenges of retail crime and ensure a secure and thriving retail environment.”

This annual event brings together top retail loss prevention experts, industry suppliers and security and law enforcement professionals to explore actionable systems and forward-thinking retail solutions.

With retailers facing increasing challenges from theft, fraud and other criminal activities which not only impact profits, but also create safety concerns for customers and staff, addressing these issues requires a unified, collaborative approach.  tps.ca


Making ORC a 'National Priority'
How a Federal Law Against Organized Retail Theft Could Help Curb Retail Crime

By the D&D Daily staff

Retail crime isn’t just about the occasional shoplifter stuffing merchandise into a coat. Increasingly, it’s a coordinated effort by criminal networks targeting stores across multiple cities and states. These organized retail theft (ORT) rings are growing in scale and sophistication—and local law enforcement is struggling to keep up. That’s where a federal law could make a real difference.

ORT typically involves groups who hit several stores in rapid succession, stealing large volumes of goods—often to resell online or through black-market channels. The scale of these operations can result in millions in losses, not just for big box stores but also for smaller businesses that can’t afford heightened security or insurance premiums.

A federal law would elevate ORT from a local nuisance to a national priority. One of the biggest challenges in combating retail theft is the jurisdictional maze law enforcement must navigate. Local police can pursue cases in their area, but they’re limited once a ring crosses into another state. A federal statute would empower agencies like the FBI, Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice to step in—bringing with them broader investigative authority and more resources.

Moreover, a federal law could standardize the definition of ORT, which currently varies from state to state. That would make it easier to prosecute cases and collect national data—something we sorely lack right now. Better data means better policy and smarter prevention strategies.

Importantly, a federal crackdown on ORT doesn’t mean criminalizing petty theft or targeting people who steal out of desperation. The focus would be on organized rings that treat retail crime as a business model. Many of these groups are linked to other criminal enterprises, including drug and human trafficking. Disrupting ORT can have ripple effects on public safety more broadly.

Retailers have been sounding the alarm for years, but the patchwork approach isn’t cutting it. A federal law would send a clear message: if you’re part of an organized criminal effort to steal and resell goods, you’re not just committing theft—you’re engaging in federal crime. That shift could be the turning point in protecting businesses, employees, and communities from the growing threat of organized retail theft.


ORC Grants Helping PDs Battle Theft
San José Police Crack Down on Organized Retail Theft, Arrest Key Suspect
The San José Police Department has recently taken a stand against the surge in organized retail thefts plaguing the city, culminating in the arrest of a suspect believed to be deeply involved in theft rings. The SJPD, empowered by a substantial grant aimed at cracking down on these crimes, has made significant progress by nabbing 40-year-old San José resident Socorro Punzo on suspicion of multiple felony charges. hoodline.com


UK: Shoplifting rise: Why are teens drawn to risky behaviour?
Shoplifting is on the rise with retail theft surging across the country, and as we dig deeper, data out of New South Wales indicates that teens are the most likely perpetrators.

Charleston, SC saw overall drop in crime last year, police data shows

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department 2024 crime data insights
 

In Case You Missed It

Innovative Security Solutions Deliver Peace of Mind for Restaurant Franchise in High-Crime Area

St. Louis, MO - February 05, 2025 - Interface Systems, a leading managed service provider of security, actionable insights, and purpose-built networks for multi-location businesses, today announced that Nicker Management, a fast-food franchise operator in the Los Angeles area, has successfully implemented Interface's Virtual Security Guard solution. By deploying Interface's advanced security technology, Nicker Management has enhanced safety, reduced operational costs, and provided a secure environment for employees and customers.

Nicker Management, led by sisters Nicole Harper Rawlins (CEO) and Kerri Harper-Howie (Co-owner), operates 24 fast-food restaurants across South LA, Compton, Lynwood, and Carson. Faced with persistent security challenges, including loitering, panhandling, and criminal activity, the company sought a modern, cost-effective solution to protect its employees and guests.

Addressing Critical Security Concerns

"We're faced with lots of challenges with crime, unhoused people, and individuals suffering from mental and/or substance abuse issues," said Harper Rawlins. "It creates significant risk at our restaurants. Over the years, we experimented with a range of security solutions, and hiring on-site guards quickly became costly and unsustainable."

After evaluating various options, Nicker Management chose Interface Systems to implement the Virtual Guard solution at one of its restaurants, ensuring a proactive and scalable approach to security.

How Interface's Virtual Guard Solution Helps Nicker Management:

• 24/7 Monitoring & Rapid Response - Trained intervention specialists continuously monitor restaurant locations to deter loitering, panhandling, and aggressive behavior in real-time.

• Automated Voice-Downs - Proactive announcements throughout the day signal active monitoring and reinforce security presence.

• Virtual Tours - Scheduled and unscheduled remote video assessments help identify threats, suspicious activities, and compliance issues.

• Employee Security Escorts - Live monitoring ensures employees' safe passage to and from their vehicles during vulnerable times such as shift changes, opening, and closing hours.

In Case You Missed It

Data Security is Key
Cybersecurity in retail: How to bridge the trust gap

Data security is a key differentiator in today’s privacy-driven market

Whether shopping online or in-store, consumers expect their data to be safe — and they’re quick to walk away if it’s not. Cybersecurity stands at the forefront of building trust, while also maintaining resilience and driving competitive advantage in retail.

As companies embrace omnichannel strategies and navigate complex supply chains, cyber threats are evolving relentlessly. To stay competitive, retailers must do more than defend. They should innovate by connecting the strategic vision of the C-suite with cybersecurity expertise, integrating robust protection measures into every aspect of their business operations.

The challenge? Many retailers aren’t moving fast enough, while others are overestimating their preparedness and allowing gaps to emerge between perception and reality.

The cybersecurity readiness paradox

PwC’s 2025 Global Digital Trust Insights Survey exposes a cyber resilience gap across sectors. Only 2% of global organizations have fully implemented holistic strategies in all critical areas, despite substantial digital investments. This is particularly notable for retailers, where a 17% confidence gap exists between CISOs/CSOs and CEOs regarding AI and resilience compliance, compared with a 13% disparity across all sectors.

This vulnerability increases as the sector‘s attack surface grows. Over the past decade, retail’s rapid adoption of cloud services, smart devices and complex partner ecosystems has significantly outpaced its security measures. Retailers are ill-equipped to address their most pressing threats — attacks on connected products, cloud vulnerabilities, hack-and-leak operations, supply chain breaches and ecommerce fraud.

This misalignment between heightened risks and actual readiness can create a potential blind spot that exposes retailers to an array of digital vulnerabilities.

Cybersecurity as a competitive advantage | The consumer call for transparency | Five actionable strategies for retail cybersecurity | Building resilience and trust into the future: nrf.com


Risk of GenAI Data Exposure
89% of enterprise AI usage is invisible to the organization
Organizations have zero visibility into 89% of AI usage, despite security policies according to a LayerX report. 71% of connections to GenAI tools are done using personal non-corporate accounts. 

Casual GenAI users unaware of data exposure risks

Most GenAI users are casual and may not be aware of the risks of GenAI data exposure. Only 15% of enterprise employees use it every week, and while a small percentage of users use it extensively, most users are casual users.

Software developers are the largest constituency of active users. Among enterprise users, 39% of users who use GenAI tools belong to research and development, 28% belong to sales and marketing. IT, HR, and finance users make up single digits only.

The research shows that 20.63% of all users have installed an AI-enabled browser extension. Of those who have such an extension installed, 45% have more than one such extension. 58% of GenAI browser extensions have a permission scope classified as ‘high’ or ‘critical,’ compared to 66.6% of all extensions.

Finally, 5.6% of AI extensions are classified as ‘malicious’ and can be used to steal data.

90% AI usage is concentrated in large, well-known apps, but there is a long tail of shadow AI applications. ChatGPT alone accounts for 50% of enterprise usage, and the top 5 AI SaaS apps for 85% of AI usage.

However, outside of the handful of well-known apps there is a long tail of lesser-used AI tools that fly under the radar. As a result, security manages don’t know which other AI apps are used, and where to put controls. helpnetsecurity.com
 

Microsoft’s new AI agents take on phishing, patching, alert fatigue
Microsoft is rolling out a new generation of AI agents in Security Copilot, built to help with some of the most time-consuming security challenges, such as phishing, data protection, and identity management.

Phishing is still one of the most common — and costly — types of cyberattacks out there. Last year, from January to December 2024, Microsoft spotted over 30 billion phishing emails aimed at customers. The sheer volume is staggering, and it’s more than most security teams can handle, especially if they’re stuck using manual processes or juggling disconnected tools.

New Microsoft Security Copilot agents

Microsoft is expanding Security Copilot’s capabilities with six new AI agents designed to help security teams tackle high-volume, repetitive tasks. These agents are built to work across the Microsoft Security ecosystem, streamlining operations and helping defenders stay ahead of threats. helpnetsecurity.com


How AI agents could undermine computing infrastructure security

San Francisco, CA: Union Square Chanel store badly damaged in attempted break-in
Police in San Francisco say no arrests have been made in an attempted break-in that badly damaged the Union Square Chanel store early Monday morning. Police said an officer on patrol in the area observed a person ramming their vehicle into the store on the 100 block of Geary Street, but was unable to get inside. Video shows the front gate of the store has been dented and glass on the front-facing window has been shattered. Despite the police presence, the suspects fled the scene in their vehicles. Then at 4:46 a.m., roughly 15 minutes after the Union Square attempted break-in, SFPD officers responded to a possible burglary at a McDonald's on the 600 block of Market Street. Police said they met with the reporting party and saw signs of forced entry to the business. Once again, there was damage at the entrance but nothing appeared to have been stolen. No arrests in this case were made.   ktvu.com


Prince George’s County, MD: Thieves use ‘Jaws of Life’ in string of robberies at 7-Eleven stores to steal more than $200K
The “Jaws of Life” is a tool typically used to pry open crushed metal to save people perilously trapped in vehicles after a crash — but a trio of thieves used the lifesaving device to break into ATMs at numerous Maryland 7-Eleven stores, police allege. The Prince George’s County Police Department said in a press release that its officers arrested three men responsible for several robberies that began in January. According to cops, the masked thieves would enter the store after midnight and order employees — and any customers who happened to be inside at the time — to get on the ground at gunpoint. Then they would take the hydraulic tool to get inside the ATM before fleeing with cash. In all, authorities say they stole some $200,000.  lawandcrime.com


Roseville, MN: Minneapolis man facing 8 separate theft charges arrested during retail theft crackdown in Roseville
Police arrested nearly three dozen people last week in the north Twin Cities metro during a crackdown on retail theft in the area, including a man facing eight other theft-related charges. The Roseville Police Department says 24 retailers participated in the initiative to "tackle the rising trend of organized retail crime." Many of the businesses brought in extra staff and additional loss prevention personnel to help. Officers recovered thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise and arrested a total of 29 people — three were arrested for organized crime, five had active warrants and seven were arrested for felony or misdemeanor thefts.  cbsnews.com


Tulsa, OK: Police arrest repeat larceny suspect linked to $16K in stolen merchandise

Donaldsonville, LA: Woman accused of helping steal $10K worth of merchandise from sports store

Cleveland, OH: Shoplifter walks out of Home Depot with $2,800 worth of goods